translation

• translation takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell and is the process of converting mRNA into a polypeptide
• during translation amino acids are joined together by a ribosome to make a polypeptide chain following the sequence of codons carried by the mRNA
• 1. mRNA attaches itself to a ribosome and tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosome
• 2. a tRNA molecule with an anticodon that's complementary to the start codon on mRNA attaches to the mRNA by complementary base pairing. this repeats multiple times
• 3) rRNA in the ribosome catalyses the formation of a peptide bond between the 2 amino acids attached to tRNA molecules.

  • this joins the amino acid together.
  • first tRNA molecule moves away leaving its amino acid behind
• 4) a third tRNA molecule binds to the next codon on mRNA. its amino acid binds to the first 2 and the 2nd tRNA molecule moves away

  • process continues making a polypeptide chain until there is a stop codon on mRNA molecule
• 5) the polypeptide chain moves away from the ribosome and translation is complete